U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Grand Jury Returns Indictments
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Wisconsin
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments yesterday. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Hudson Resident Charged with Drug Crimes Involving Methamphetamine
Juventino Lara Plancarte, 54, a citizen of Mexico living in Hudson, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and with maintaining a place for the purpose of distributing controlled substances. The indictment alleges that on January 20, 2022, he possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine for distribution and maintained a place in Hudson for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine.
If convicted, Plancarte faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison on the charge of possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine for distribution. The charge of maintaining a place for distributing controlled substances has a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the La Crosse and Hudson Police Departments and the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson is handling the prosecution.
La Crosse Man Charged with Drug & Gun Crimes
Kareem Nellum, 29, La Crosse, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing fentanyl, possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that on March 29, 2022, Nellum distributed fentanyl, and that on March 30, 2022, he possessed 40 grams or more of fentanyl for distribution and a Smith and Wesson pistol and 9mm ammunition.
If convicted, Nellum faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the fentanyl distribution charge, a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years on the charge of possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl for distribution, and a maximum of 10 years on the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the La Crosse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Kraus is handling the investigation.
Eau Claire Woman Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution
Golia Xiong, 39, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that she possessed the methamphetamine for distribution on March 30, 2022.
If convicted, Xiong faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison. The charge against her is the result of an investigation by the Barron County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson is handling the prosecution.
Fitchburg Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm
Johnluke Spears, 31, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on December 21, 2021, he possessed a .40 caliber handgun.
If convicted, Spears faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Fitchburg, Middleton, and Sun Prairie Police Departments; Dane County Sheriff’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the investigation.
Mexican Citizen Charged with Illegally Reentering United States
Paulino Gonzalez-Zarate, 27, a citizen of Mexico living in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is charged with illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed. The indictment alleges that he was found in the U.S. on April 14, 2022.
Gonzalez-Zarate was previously charged with this offense in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court on April 28. The complaint alleges that after his arrest on state charges of battery, strangulation and suffocation, and sexual assault, investigators became aware that he was in the U.S. illegally.
The charge against Gonzalez-Zarate is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Duchemin is handling the prosecution.
Updated May 12, 2022
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Project Safe Neighborhoods
Drug Trafficking
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